CNTRB 010545
CNTRB 010545
CNTRB 010545
About Breastfeeding
Why Breastfeed?
Breast milk is the only food your baby needs until about six months of age. Research shows that breastfeeding has many
health benefits for both the baby and mother.
Every time the woman nurses her baby or pumps her breasts she gets a small increase in prolactin. It is best to start
breastfeeding within one to six hours after birth. Usually a newborn baby will nurse about 8 to 12 times in a 24-hour
day. This works out to be about every one to three hours. Breastfeeding often tells the breast of the woman to increase
how much milk is made. This will make sure that there is a lot of milk several months after birth. Usually, the baby gets
about 15 ml (1/2 ounce) at a feeding when three days old. By four days of age the baby gets about 30 ml (1 ounce) per
feeding. On the fifth day the baby gets about 45 ml (1 ½ ounces) per feeding.
By two weeks of age the baby is getting 480 to 720 ml (16 to 24 oz.) per day. By one month of age the baby is getting 750
to 800 ml of breast milk per day. Some babies will eventually get large volumes, 3 – 5 oz. per feeding. These babies will
probably nurse less often. Other babies will continue to get small volumes and will continue to need to nurse often. Both
babies are normal and will grow well.
By the third day of life, your baby usually will get about a tablespoon (15 ml) at each feeding. This is a small volume but
it is normal and expected. Your baby seems to know that the milk supply is increasing. Babies tend to nurse almost
continuously on the third night after birth. This continuous breastfeeding will stop as your milk supply increases.
After 40 minutes of breastfeeding, we encourage you to take a half-hour break. Try to console your baby in another
manner. When your baby nurses again, you will get another surge of the make milk hormone, prolactin.
As your baby gets older they may shorten how long a feeding lasts. Some babies will get 60 to 150 ml (2 – 5 ounces) in
five minutes time. However, some babies continue to take 20 to 40 minutes per feeding. Both types of babies are normal.
What is Colostrum?
A nursing mother’s first milk for baby is called colostrum. This is food, just like later milk. It is protein (like steak or
dried beans). Colostrum contains minerals and water and is made just for your baby. It contains things that help protect
your baby from illness. Colostrum helps to get the gut ready for other solid foods. We call it liquid gold because you can’t
easily buy it. It comes in small amounts usually, milliliters or teaspoons. Colostrum is only available for a few days. If your
baby is not breastfeeding, you can usually get more colostrum if you hand express your breast.
Don’t fill the storage container more than three-fourths full. There must be room for the milk to expand without
breaking the container. Do not store expressed breast milk in the door of the refrigerator or freezer. The temperature
will be less stable there. Refrigerator temperatures should be are 35–40 0F (1-40C). Freezer temperatures should be –4 0F
(-20 0C) or below.
Pediatricians suggest that you wait to use a pacifier until after the first month. Breastfeeding should be well established
at this point. However, no one knows you, your baby, your family, or your goals as well as you do. You may feel you need
to use a pacifier to get a break from breastfeeding. Taking this break may help you to breastfeed longer.
Pacifiers can have some benefit. Babies are less likely to die of Sudden Infant Death if they use a pacifier as they go to
sleep. You do not need to put the pacifier back in your baby’s mouth when they spit it out. Premature infants who suck
on a pacifier become stronger feeders.
If you have any questions, concerns, or would simply like more information, please schedule an appointment
with a breastfeeding consultant by calling (952) 967-7955.
References
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